Waiting to Disappear

by April Young Fritz

* "Events unfold believably and hopefully in this moving story about family, mental illness, and coming of age. . . ."-Booklist (starred review)

Thirteen-year-old Elizabeth Mullens, better known as Buddy, should be having a wonderful summer. Everybody in her small Southern town is getting ready for the Fourth of July, and she's about to start high school. But little by little, Buddy's mom is slipping into her own dark world, and that summer she finally has a breakdown. She has to be taken to Moodus Meadows, a place for people with emotional problems. How could her mother just leave her? Buddy still has her dad and even likes the idea of her glamorous Aunt Sherry staying with them, but she wants her mom back. And one way or another she's going to make it happen.

326 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2002

Reviews

[Hanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Set in 1960, this YA novel (attempts to) deal with a teenager's difficulties with a mother who is "loony," as they say. It's very introspective (complete with discussion questions at the end), and comes to a more or less satisfying conclusion (for the main character), but not very satisfying for me as a Christian reader. Since the author's worldview seems entirely secular, there's no getting to the root of the Buddy's mother's problem--not that there's one singular specific remedy for overwhelming grief, but the Christian attitude is not brought up at all (maybe it's there somewhere amid all the vagueries, but I couldn't discern it).

In addition there are a smattering of crude words and musings, not presented in a condemning manner (the immature, smoking, disrespectful foulest young woman of them all is the main character's favorite aunt). Aside from the angst about the mother's issues, all of the MC's issues (makeup? Bras? Boyfriends?) are all so distasteful. Verna's friendship rings more authentic and interesting to me.

In essence, not worth it. For readers young or old.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good story about a young girl whose mother has a mental breakdown. The young girl does everything in her power to bring her mother back home from the mental house. She finally realizes that her mom's illness is not her fault.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It was really interesting. I really liked Sherry, she was probably my favorite character. But I love how it tells us how Buddy deals with her mother's emotional problems.

[Mary E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read this book before and I still love it. Poignant, well written, a satisfying read.

[Nancy]

margie